Historic Roots

Origins of the Eichlers and other mid-century modern homes

John Siler's Touch
With bright colors and quirky details, this designer's Streng is an intriguing 'idea house'
Meet Bill Streng
Three decades one of his own best customers, Bill still lives 'Streng modern' with a passion
Profile: The Dark Family
Dark family bridges generations by carrying on their Streng-to-Eichler modern lifestyle
Custom Carter Sparks
Apart from his Streng designs, architect Sparks wowed his custom clients with drama and intrigue
Carter Sparks Magic
Drama, humor, and exoticism meld with redwood warmth for architect's quirky brand of modernism
Strengs Go Prefab
The Strengs' factory-builts were more than a mere challenge
Greater Sacramento Strengs: Valley of the Atriums
Who are the Streng brothers—and what's the story behind their fascinating modern homes?
Eichler Inspiration: Paul Adamson
Fascination with Eichlers Peaks with Paul Adamson's Book 'Eichler: Modernism Rebuilds the American Dream'
Thermador Ovens and Cooktops
Saluting Thermador: As the oven-cooktop king turns 50, we return to the roots of Eichler home cooking
SoCal Modern: At Home in the New Frontier
In a year of 'Sixties Turn 50' celebration—touring the bold space-age spectrum of SoCal's modern residential architecture
Arts & Architecture: Magazine with a Mission
Arts & Architecture—infused by publisher John Entenza—was about much more than the Case Study houses
In Memoriam: Architect Kinji Imada (1927 - 2005)
Remembering the serene Architect Kinji Imada—a quiet presence who made sure the Eichlers got built
Soul Searching: Photographer, Leland Lee
Fire-ravaged architectural photographer Leland Lee, 91, longs to keep alive a four-decade legacy
Beyond Flash and Fantasy
John Lautner's 'keeping it real' approach to architecture—visionary yet down-to-earth, space age yet eternal
Encore Performance: The Gary Cooper House
Designed with star power by architect A. Quincy Jones—the Cooper house takes center stage for the second time
Retro Living: Blasts from the Past
15 retrolicious ways to break through the time warp and relive the mid-century today
Bohemia by the Bay: Looking Back on the Beat Generation
Non-conformist spirits of the mid-century and their San Francisco haven
Buried Treasures: Unearthing Time Capsules
Mysterious time capsules—returning from deep sleep to evoke the 'now' for future generations
Steel Houses: Steel Ideal
Meet 12 California classics: Are these the Golden State's finest modern steel houses?
Falling for a Futuro
A tenacious California architect takes on the restoration of his out-of-this-world dream home